York's Vivienne Trophy ladies indoor bowls team bowed out of the competition, beaten 91-69 in the quarter-finals by the trophy favourites Lincoln.

The only York rink to win was at Lincoln. Pat Bracken, Marilyn Andrews, Jean Williams and Maureen Robinson led 17-5 after 11 ends but then lost seven ends in succession to trail 22-17.

But they played with determination to win the last three ends and take the game 24-22.

In the other rink at Lincoln, York's Betty Richardson, Cath Blease, Sylvia Walker and Marjorie Elvidge took the lead on the eighth end when they scored a three to make it 8-6.

They kept the lead until the last end when they dropped a five to lose 19-17.

At York, Anita Haw, Clarice Johnston, Doreen Arnett and Ida West were 19-6 down after 12 ends but started the last end only 20-18 behind.

They were close to picking up the required shots but instead dropped a two to lose 22-18.

Joyce Gee, Doreen Fennell, Margaret Smith and Pat Lofthouse struggled, especially between the eighth and 17th ends when they only won one end, and the visitors went from 8-3 ahead to an unbeatable 24-5 lead on the way to winning 28-10.

York, already through to the final, beat Hull 79-70 in their last group match in the Hebden Trophy.

Playing at home, Dennis Haw, Alwyn Johnson, Liam Cahill and Norman Vause scored a maximum eight on the sixth end to lead 14-1 and went on to win 25-15.

Fred Clayden, Peter Littlewood, Mike Pearce and Dave Clayton were 7-0 up after only four ends but then won only two more ends as Hull hit back to win 25-12.

At Hull, Brian Thomas, Tony Bryan, Geoff Oglesby and Ken Hutson led 13-5 after ten ends but won only one of the next eight, losing 14 shots in the process. Thomas's team scoring only singles in winning the next three ends ands and they lost 19-17.

York's other away rink, Eric Hodgson, Malcolm Thompson, Philip Scott and Dave Dale won 25-11 to gain the away and match aggregate. York got eight points to cap a fine qualifying season.

Yorkshire 'B' fielded seven players aged 18 or under in their 131-97 Roses Challenge match victory over Lancashire.

York's Liam Cahill played in a 24-12 winning rink and Philip Scott in Ray Clark's 30-17 win.

New Earswick's Stephen Long played in Barry Johnson's 22-14 winning team skipped by Mark Goodfellow.

Updated: 12:07 Thursday, February 21, 2002